The effects of a clean install

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dave T.
  • Start date Start date
D

Dave T.

When doing an install of Win 7, Does the entire drive get wiped, or just
the C partition? I'm thinking of course of maintaining the recovery
partition.

Dave T.
 
Dave T. said:
When doing an install of Win 7, Does the entire drive get wiped, or just
the C partition? I'm thinking of course of maintaining the recovery
partition.

Dave T.
Click to expand...

Problem is: you'll probably wipe the computer's ability to make use of
the recovery partition using its boot manager that you see referenced
when you start the system (Press F? to...).

It's best that you make a complete backup of your drive before doing
anything.

Acronis True Image gets the most votes of confidence, but it will cost
you close to $40 (check newegg.com for the lowest price). That is
money well spent if you use it frequently to maintain an up-to-date
backup of your system.

A newcomer freebie that is getting good press is EASEUS Todo.

Google it.
 
Did not your PC supplier have a means of creating the recovery disks? most
do.
Since if your drive fails so will your option to use the recovery partition
 
DL said:
Did not your PC supplier have a means of creating the recovery disks? most
do.
Since if your drive fails so will your option to use the recovery partition
Click to expand...
I say again;

When doing an install of Win 7, Does the entire drive get wiped, or just
the C partition? I'm thinking of course of maintaining the recovery
partition.
Click to expand...

It should not matter whether I have recovery discs (which I do), I'm
curious for an answer to the question. Why? I tested the disc when I
made it, but the next time I put it in the tray, maybe it won't be good.
I want to maintain the recovery partition.

Dave T.
 
In message <[email protected]> "Dave T."
I say again;

When doing an install of Win 7, Does the entire drive get wiped, or just

It should not matter whether I have recovery discs (which I do), I'm
curious for an answer to the question. Why? I tested the disc when I
made it, but the next time I put it in the tray, maybe it won't be good.
I want to maintain the recovery partition.
Click to expand...

You can choose to upgrade, or to do a Custom install. If you do a
Custom install then the entire *partition* gets wiped.

However, the other's comments are very relevant in that even if the
recovery partition is left intact, if it requires a special bootloader
then it may not be usable.

Note that only some recovery partitions use odd bootloaders, others are
accessible from the BIOS directly, so this may not be an issue.
 
Dave said:
In message <[email protected]> "Dave T."


You can choose to upgrade, or to do a Custom install. If you do a
Custom install then the entire *partition* gets wiped.

However, the other's comments are very relevant in that even if the
recovery partition is left intact, if it requires a special bootloader
then it may not be usable.

Note that only some recovery partitions use odd bootloaders, others are
accessible from the BIOS directly, so this may not be an issue.
Click to expand...

Dave, thanks for the info. I have a better understanding of it now. How
can I determine whether or not the recovery partition is accessable from
the BIOS? It is my intention to test Win 7 to decide whether or not I
want to upgrade, and then revert back to Vista.
 
Hi,

In nearly all cases, the bootloader on the drive is modified by the
manufacturer so that the user can access the recovery volume on demand. This
has nothing to do with the system BIOS. If you install another OS, the boot
sector will be modified by it and you will no longer have access to the
recovery volume. Should you ever need to use it, you will need to contact
the manufacturer for assistance (and likely have to pay for it) as the
method of getting access back varies greatly.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
Vote for my shoe: http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
 
Rick said:
Hi,

In nearly all cases, the bootloader on the drive is modified by the
manufacturer so that the user can access the recovery volume on demand.
This has nothing to do with the system BIOS. If you install another OS,
the boot sector will be modified by it and you will no longer have
access to the recovery volume. Should you ever need to use it, you will
need to contact the manufacturer for assistance (and likely have to pay
for it) as the method of getting access back varies greatly.
Click to expand...
Rick,

Understood, and thank you. Does this mean that the recovery disc would
be unusable also?

Dave T.
 
bruce2 said:
When you install Win 7, it will only install on the C: drive and will
asked to be wiped out before installation. The other partitions
including the recovery partition will not be touched unless you delete
them.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info Bruce.

Dave T.
 
Hi,

Quite the contrary, a recovery disk relies on the optical drive being listed
as the first bootable device in the system BIOS ahead of the hard drive.
Most systems are set this way by default. In this case, the hard drive (and
the boot sector on it) is never loaded.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
Vote for my shoe: http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
 
The recovery volume will not be touched, but the bootloader used to access
it will be, rendering it useless as you won't be able to access it.

Win7 will call whatever volume it installs to as C:\, it does not have to be
the existing C:\ drive. In fact, if C:\ is left intact and Win7 is installed
to an alternate volumet, it will actually be relettered when Win7 is booted.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
Vote for my shoe: http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
 
Rick said:
The recovery volume will not be touched, but the bootloader used to
access it will be, rendering it useless as you won't be able to access it.

Win7 will call whatever volume it installs to as C:\, it does not have
to be the existing C:\ drive. In fact, if C:\ is left intact and Win7 is
installed to an alternate volumet, it will actually be relettered when
Win7 is booted.
Click to expand...

Rick, thanks for all the info. If I read it all right, dual booting
would be the better way to go, correct?

Dave T.
 
Hi Dave,

Dual booting will not preserve the bootloader for the recovery volume. There
is only one boot sector on the hard drive, and it will be overwritten when
you install any other OS, whether it is in a dual boot configuration,
upgrade, or clean install.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
Vote for my shoe: http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
 
Rick said:
Hi Dave,

Dual booting will not preserve the bootloader for the recovery volume.
There is only one boot sector on the hard drive, and it will be
overwritten when you install any other OS, whether it is in a dual boot
configuration, upgrade, or clean install.
Click to expand...
I get it now. Thanks a million Rick.

Dave T.
 
Dave T. said:
When doing an install of Win 7, Does the entire drive get wiped, or
just the C partition? I'm thinking of course of maintaining the
recovery partition.

Dave T.
Click to expand...


Why? The correct and safest route would be to contact the
manufacturer and for a nominal cost get the recovery disks for your
make, model and serial number. You are asking about something that
may or may not happen three months down the road. (Windows 7)
 
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